Rest and Reset: A 30-Day Devotional to Revive JoySample

After you have suffered for a while.

Joy and suffering often walk hand in hand with us. When you come to Christ, there is this hope that hard times are now behind you, and you get to bask in God’s promises for your life. However, the truth is that you will suffer. There will be seasons in your life where you are deeply hurt yet experiencing your greatest joy because of God’s comfort and presence. In Job chapter 14 and 1, the Bible says, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” We often confuse the structure of this verse, thinking that we will live through a few troubles and many full days.

For years, I lacked a theology for suffering as a Christian. When circumstances turned dire and hopelessness began to seep into my heart, I focused on Satan. “This is the devil.” The enemy is attacking me. Though I sometimes wrestled with intrusive thoughts, the suffering I endured was simply life. It was circumstances beyond my control that brought me heartache. God was present, as was His power to navigate the waters of immense pain.

When my daughter died unexpectedly from SIDS, my theology convinced me that I was to blame. I believed that I didn’t have enough strong prayers to save her. I often thought about the children of Israel and the blood on the doorposts that saved them. The pastors I listened to preached those passages as our duty to cover our households. As I began to hear sound teaching and the proper way to interpret the word, I was now faced with the reality of false doctrine and a fallen world. A world and system so broken that the best and most faithful way to endure was to live for another one. A heaven that promises to wash away the pain of what we suffered.

In the epistle of 1 Peter, chapter 5, verse 10, we read a sobering yet freeing message to Christians who are truly in Christ’s care. This scripture states, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” Peter first points us to God’s lasting grace. God’s grace is what we depend on during times of suffering and trials. It is through this grace that our hearts and minds can find joy regardless of the circumstances. Then he reminds us of our calling—to his eternal glory. The promise follows: after you have suffered a while. In Greek, “a while” has synonyms such as little, few, or short.

This is important to remember because when you are within the grips of suffering, each moment can feel like years. The moments seem as long as months, and the hope for a better tomorrow feels so distant. The verse says God will make you perfect, which means complete. During the maturing stage, we undergo a process of establishing, which involves strengthening our core beliefs about God. Then the verse ends with "settle you," meaning to lay the foundation. It is on this foundation that you can build your faith, step by step, trusting that God will be faithful despite your circumstances.

It's crucial to view your experiences from the proper perspective—a sacred outlook that highlights God’s strength amid trouble, rather than Satan's lies. No believer faces this world without suffering. But be encouraged, you can find deep joy as you await deliverance, whether it occurs here on earth or in eternity.

Be encouraged.